Justice: Violence against women

The stories that have recently emerged from India highlight the desperate plight of women who are victims of violence. Rape and killing are extreme forms of violence. And, as those stories have shown, the police and legal system do not always bring about justice for these victims.

• Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women – are major public health problems and violations of women’s human rights.
• Recent global prevalence figures indicate that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
• On average, 30% of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.
• Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
• Violence can result in physical, mental, sexual, reproductive health and other health problems, and may increase vulnerability to HIV.
• Risk factors for being a perpetrator include low education, exposure to child maltreatment or witnessing violence in the family, harmful use of alcohol, attitudes accepting of violence and gender inequality.

While these statistics give part of the picture, the brokenness and roots of this evil need further understanding, so that we can pray for a severing of those roots. Ask God for insight into the story, and pray for a breaking of the bondages that shackle women into the injustices of violence. Pray for healing, reconciliation and for God to give these women and children a new identity in him.

Source of Statistics: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/